Segregation eliminator



Nov. 11, 1941. E. E. STARNER ETI'AL 2,262,702:

SEGREGATI 0N ELIM INATOR Filed July 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet I Inventors EARL ZJTARNEQ,

L%f -Z. HARLEs M. MITCHELL,

Attorney Nov. 11, 1941. E. E. STARNER ETAL 2,262,702

SEGREGATION ELIMINATOR Filed July 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/ 7% 5 I Inventors [A R1. 1 JTA RNEE; (HARL 55 M. Mme/4e14,

Allorne Nov. 11, 1941. E. E. STARNER EIAL SEGREGATION ELIMINATOR' Filed July 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventors 17M: 2. .STARNER,

(HARM-.5 M MITCHELL,

Attorney Patented Nov. 11, 1941 SEGREGATION ELIMINATOR I Earl E. Starner and Charles M. Mitchell, Dresden, Ohio, assignors to The Zanesvilie Gravel Company, Dresden, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 26, 1941, Serial No. 404,249

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for preventing the segregation of fine and coarse graveland other granular material in the charging of hoppers and other dispensing receptors.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an eliminator which can readily be installed in hoppers and which in use will regulate the mixing of coarse and fine particles at the bottom or the hopper.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the follow-- ing specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of a single type hopper equipped with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a double type hopp r.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring-to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be-seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3 that numeral 5 denotes a downwardly tapering hopper having a restricted bottom 6. In this bottom is a discharge opening I over which a manually operative gate 8 is disposed, this gate being provided with an external shank 9 equipped with a handle l0. Numeral II denotes a conveyor for conveying gravel or other granular material to the hopper.

Figures 4 and 5 disclose a double type hopper which, of course, consists of a shell So having a bottom 6a in which are discharge openings la, la over which gates 8a, 8a are disposed, these gates having shanks 9a and handles la. In this form of hopper a vertical transverse partition I! is provided for dividing the interior of the hopper into compartments I3 and I 4.

The present invention which is generally referred to by numeral I can be placed in the single compartment of the hopper 5 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 or in each of the compartments l3 and ll of a double or multiple type hopper.

The present invention consists of a pan l6 supported upon horizontally disposed straps II which are suitably secured at their ends to side walls of the hopper 5 or 5a. The central portion of this pan it which has sloping side walls I8 is formed with a circular or desirably shaped in a box 2| suitably secured to the bottom side of the pan iii.

A shank 22 extends from the gate 20 and through an opening in a side wall portion of the hopper. this slank being equipped with a handle 23. 4

It can now be seen that the gate 20 can be regulated to the desired position so that'only a certain amount of material which comes to rest upon the pan Hi can pass therethrough to the bottom of the hopper. In charging hoppers with gravel, for instance, it has long been realized that as the gravel drops into the hopper the finer particles drop almost vertically while the coarser particles describe an arc and in this way segregate from the finer particles, with the result that the coarser particles will back up along one side of the hopper while a cone of finer gravel will form from the bottom up, with the result that when the gate 8 or Be is opened for the discharge of material an unsatisfactory size of gravel is dispensed.

In the present invention the finer gravel forms a mass upwardly from the pan l6 while the coarser .gravel has a chance to pass around the pan, the gate 20 being regulated so as to permit only a certain amount of the finer material to pass downwardly thus affording at all times a uniform and desirable mixing of the fine and coarse particles at the bottom of the hopper.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An apparatus for preventing the segregation of fine and coarse granular material in a hopper having a discharge outlet at its bottom, comprising a pan centrally mounted in the hopper in spaced relation from the outlet, said pan being spaced from side walls of the hopper, said pan having a. controllable orifice therein for the regulated passage of material therethrough and means for depositing the material into the top of the hopper at substantially the central portion thereof, whereby the fine material will drop into the pan and some of the coarser material will pass into the hopper between the space formed by the pan and the adjacent side walls of the hopper.

2. An apparatus for preventing the segregaopening l9 under whichis a gate 20 operative tion of fine and coarse granular material in a hopper having a discharge outlet at its bottom, comprising a pan centrally mounted in the hopper above the outlet. said pan being spaced from side walls oithe hopper, said pan being provided with sloping side wallland having an opening in the bottom thereof, a gate for closing the opening in the a shank extending from the gate to a point exteriorly of the hopper and means for depositing the material into the top 01' the hopper at substantially the central portion thereof, whereby the fine material will drop into the pan and some of the coarser material will pass into the hopper between the space formed 5 by the pan and the adjacent side walls of the hopper.

EARL E. STARNER'. 1 CHARLES M. M'I'CHEIL. 

